Seminar: Reading and Interpretation of Philosophical Texts

Objectives

1-To exercise hermeneutical and heuristic competences;
2-To exercise the ability for terminological conceptual analysis;
3-To exercise the ability to conceive and test interpretative possibilities;
4-To exercise the ability to analyse, discuss and process discussion points;
5-To exercise the ability to produce interpretative expositions of philosophical texts;
6-To exercise the ability for critical reflexion, as well as a sense of dialogue.

 

General characterization

Code

711031063

Credits

12.0

Responsible teacher

Giovanni Damele

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - 336

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

None

Bibliography

Bernard de Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees, Penguin, 1989

Bernard de Mandeville, A fábula das abelhas, Editora UNESP (Digital), 2017 

Teaching method

The text analysis will be introduced by the lecturer. The text will be then discussed with the students. At the end of the academic year, each student must produce a written essay on his chosen sectio from the Fable.

Evaluation method

Evaluation Method - seminar presentation(50%), written essay(50%)

Subject matter

The course will focus on the analysis of Bernard de Mandeville’s The Fable of Bees and on its influence on the traditions of political realism and political and economic liberalism, shedding light on different interpretations, on its relevance for different authors (first of all, Adam Smith), on its different readings (first of all, by Friedrich von Hayek) and also demystifying some common assumptions.    

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: